Kraków Philharmonic Choir
Founded in 1945, the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Choir in Kraków became a fully professional ensemble in 1950. Just one year later, it won First Prize at the First Festival of Polish Music in Warsaw, marking the beginning of its distinguished artistic career. Today, it ranks among Poland's leading professional choirs, performing a repertoire that ranges from monumental oratorios to a cappella works spanning the seventeenth century to the present day.
The Choir has appeared at Poland's most prestigious festivals, including Wratislavia Cantans, Warsaw Autumn and Gaude Mater, as well as internationally renowned events such as the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Holland Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival d'Art Sacré de Paris, Internazionales Brucknerfest Linz, Salzburger Festspiele and the Athens Festival. For eleven consecutive editions it was also closely associated with the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival.
Throughout its history, the ensemble has collaborated with many distinguished orchestras, including the Wiener Symphoniker, Beethovenhalleorchester Bonn, Orchestre Radiotélévision Belge, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana di Palermo, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier and the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Choir has participated in numerous internationally significant commemorative events. It performed at the Vatican during the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's pontificate, in Berlin for the reunification of Germany, and in Oświęcim during the ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In 2004 it took part in the Vatican's Concert of Reconciliation, together with the Ankara State Polyphonic Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In 2014 the Choir sang during the canonisation ceremonies of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican and later participated in Peace through Music "In Our Age" at Washington's Constitution Hall under the baton of Sir Gilbert Levine.
Alongside major oratorio works, the Choir performs operas including Don Giovanni, The Maid of Orleans, Lohengrin, Der Freischütz and The Black Mask. Its repertoire also features Peer Gynt, Misa criolla, Liverpool Oratorio, Requiem by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trionfi and Alexander Nevsky.
The Choir has played an important role in promoting the music of Krzysztof Penderecki, particularly through performances of Utrenja and the St Luke Passion, whose recording received the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque. Other important recordings include works by Wojciech Kilar. Its album featuring Krzesany, Angelus and Victoria received a Fryderyk Award nomination in 1997. The Choir also participated in recordings of Kilar's film scores, including Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola and King of the Last Days by Thomas Toelle.
For decades, the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Choir has enjoyed the admiration of audiences, critics and conductors alike, while its international tours have earned it recognition as one of Poland's foremost ambassadors of musical culture.
The Choir has appeared at Poland's most prestigious festivals, including Wratislavia Cantans, Warsaw Autumn and Gaude Mater, as well as internationally renowned events such as the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Holland Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival d'Art Sacré de Paris, Internazionales Brucknerfest Linz, Salzburger Festspiele and the Athens Festival. For eleven consecutive editions it was also closely associated with the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival.
Throughout its history, the ensemble has collaborated with many distinguished orchestras, including the Wiener Symphoniker, Beethovenhalleorchester Bonn, Orchestre Radiotélévision Belge, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana di Palermo, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier and the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Choir has participated in numerous internationally significant commemorative events. It performed at the Vatican during the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's pontificate, in Berlin for the reunification of Germany, and in Oświęcim during the ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In 2004 it took part in the Vatican's Concert of Reconciliation, together with the Ankara State Polyphonic Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In 2014 the Choir sang during the canonisation ceremonies of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican and later participated in Peace through Music "In Our Age" at Washington's Constitution Hall under the baton of Sir Gilbert Levine.
Alongside major oratorio works, the Choir performs operas including Don Giovanni, The Maid of Orleans, Lohengrin, Der Freischütz and The Black Mask. Its repertoire also features Peer Gynt, Misa criolla, Liverpool Oratorio, Requiem by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trionfi and Alexander Nevsky.
The Choir has played an important role in promoting the music of Krzysztof Penderecki, particularly through performances of Utrenja and the St Luke Passion, whose recording received the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque. Other important recordings include works by Wojciech Kilar. Its album featuring Krzesany, Angelus and Victoria received a Fryderyk Award nomination in 1997. The Choir also participated in recordings of Kilar's film scores, including Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola and King of the Last Days by Thomas Toelle.
For decades, the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Choir has enjoyed the admiration of audiences, critics and conductors alike, while its international tours have earned it recognition as one of Poland's foremost ambassadors of musical culture.
